Suffolk County Community College administrator to leave next month

Suffolk County Community College executive vice president George Gatta has resigned from his $211,700-a-year post after nine years with the college, and his duties will be split among three other top administrators.

Gatta, 62, a Suffolk alumnus, once served as the college’s interim president while the college conducted a yearlong search before hiring Shaun MacKay in 2010 as a replacement for Shirley Pippins. Gatta will step down Feb. 18, when his current contract runs out.

College sources say there was friction between Gatta and MacKay, in part because Gatta, a former deputy county executive, had a separate contract with the board of trustees while other top administrators serve at the pleasure of the president.

Gatta played a major role in the college’s battle to gain increased independence from the county and to implement a new computer system for college finances. He was also central to the location of a branch in Sayville for the college’s nursing program and the creation of a culinary arts center in Riverhead.

Gatta had served as former County Executive Robert Gaffney’s top economic development and planning aide and had earlier worked for Islip Town.

No replacement was named for Gatta, but his work on capital projects and facilities will be shifted to vice president Gail Vizzini, his duties on strategic planning will go to vice president Nathaniel Pugh, and his work on information technology and public safety will be handled by college general counsel Louis Petrizzo.